The IDF\'s reaction to today\'s murders included pin-pointed bombing of terrorist targets in several locations throughout Judea and Samaria. In Ramallah, Tanzim, Force 17, and PA police buildings were targeted, followed by IDF tank shelling of a Palestinian checkpoint east of Shechem. Targets in Jericho, Shechem, and Jenin were also hit. Arab sources reported eight wounded in the raids. In addition, IDF planes flew in the skies of Lebanon, while ground troops directed heavy fire into Lebanon from the Shab\'a farms.
Defense Ministry officials say that all evidence leads to the fact that Yasser Arafat is behind the increased wave of terrorism, and that he currently supports an escalation.
Prime Minister Sharon has sent what many observers consider to be a significant message to the Palestinian Authority when he ordered the arrest today of Ziyad Abu Ziyad. The detainee is responsible for the Jerusalem portfolio on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, and he was arrested for \"illegal presence in Israel.\" The policemen entered his office near Rockefeller Museum in eastern Jerusalem. After an interrogation, he was banished to the autonomous areas.
Former GSS official Menachem Landau told the Makor Rishon newspaper on Friday that Israel has been effective in thwarting Arafat. Asked to list achievements that Arafat has attained over the past year, Landau said,
\"I have not seen Egypt sending forces; on the contrary, Mubarak\'s remarks show that he has no interest in getting involved. [An article was written] on what the man-in-the-street in Egypt thinks, and it showed that the Egyptian people say that they have already done their share and don\'t want to get involved in any more wars. I don\'t see Jordan sending forces either. The world\'s condemnations [of Israel] are only lip service. We went into Area A and we didn\'t see any ultimatums. We showed that we can go in wherever we want and for as long as we want. Arafat tried to organize an Arab summit and did not succeed. He did not get the UN to pass the resolutions that he wanted. He had some success in Durban, true, but not in terms of pressure on Israel or internationalizing the dispute. The world is tired of him. I think that he was also disappointed by the Israeli public\'s reaction. I believe in unity, in the State of Israel\'s inner strength. So far, we have withstood the tests with extraordinary forbearance and strength.\"
Defense Ministry officials say that all evidence leads to the fact that Yasser Arafat is behind the increased wave of terrorism, and that he currently supports an escalation.
Prime Minister Sharon has sent what many observers consider to be a significant message to the Palestinian Authority when he ordered the arrest today of Ziyad Abu Ziyad. The detainee is responsible for the Jerusalem portfolio on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, and he was arrested for \"illegal presence in Israel.\" The policemen entered his office near Rockefeller Museum in eastern Jerusalem. After an interrogation, he was banished to the autonomous areas.
Former GSS official Menachem Landau told the Makor Rishon newspaper on Friday that Israel has been effective in thwarting Arafat. Asked to list achievements that Arafat has attained over the past year, Landau said,
\"I have not seen Egypt sending forces; on the contrary, Mubarak\'s remarks show that he has no interest in getting involved. [An article was written] on what the man-in-the-street in Egypt thinks, and it showed that the Egyptian people say that they have already done their share and don\'t want to get involved in any more wars. I don\'t see Jordan sending forces either. The world\'s condemnations [of Israel] are only lip service. We went into Area A and we didn\'t see any ultimatums. We showed that we can go in wherever we want and for as long as we want. Arafat tried to organize an Arab summit and did not succeed. He did not get the UN to pass the resolutions that he wanted. He had some success in Durban, true, but not in terms of pressure on Israel or internationalizing the dispute. The world is tired of him. I think that he was also disappointed by the Israeli public\'s reaction. I believe in unity, in the State of Israel\'s inner strength. So far, we have withstood the tests with extraordinary forbearance and strength.\"